Fantastic talent scores twice as Tractor Girls defeat Chatham to get back to winning ways

At The Bauvill Stadium this afternoon, the Ipswich Town Women defeated Chatham Town 6-1 to resume their winning ways.

After a brief intermission, Joe Sheehan’s team came back to win all three points behind goals from Nia Evans, Lenna Gunning-Williams, Bonnie Horwood, Sophie Peskett, and a brace from Natasha Thomas.

Gunning-Williams collected the ball from the left and moved inside before hitting a spectacular shot over the keeper’s head from 25 yards out to give the Tractor Girls the lead in the ninth minute.

Lucy O’Brien was fouled inside the area in the 12th minute, and Town was immediately awarded a penalty, making the score 2-0.

Horwood took a step up from 12 yards and scored the goal with the post’s assistance.

The Blues increased their lead to three goals in the 35th minute when Peskett sent in a risky cross from the right, and Thomas, whose first attempt had been stopped, scored with her second.

Just before halftime, the forward scored her second goal of the game when another Peskett cross caused chaos in the Chatham area and Thomas was the first to react, stabbing home after Gunning-Williams’ attempt was blocked.

For a relentless first half, the Blues had a pretty good performance.

However, they didn’t score their fifth goal of the afternoon until the 75th minute.

Together, Gunning-Williams and Kyra Robertson twisted and laid the ball off to Peskett, who moved to her left foot and fired past the goalkeeper.

The home team did equalize in the 83rd minute when Breon Grant found an open net due to a defensive blunder by the Blues.

Then, in stoppage time, Ruby Doe received a straight red after responding to a challenge, which led to the reduction of the Tractor Girls to 10.

However, Evans, a substitute, had the final say after sealing the Blues’ victory with a fantastic long-range goal.

Town: Hartley, Mitchell (Barker), Boswell, Wearing (Williams), Hughes, Horwood (c) (Evans), Robertson, Peskett, O’Brien (Doe), Gunning-Williams, Thomas